Prison sentence for HDP's Baluken also finalized

The Supreme Court Division 16 finalized the sentence issued to Former HDP Amed MP and Imrali Delegation Member Idris Baluken.

ANF

NEWS DESK

Wednesday, 5 Dec 2018, 14:30

The Supreme Court Penal Division 16 finalized the 7 year 6 month sentence issued by the local court to former HDP Amed MP and Imrali Delegation Member Idris Baluken for “membership to a terrorist organization”. The Supreme Court Penal Division 16 assessed the case after lawyers appealed the verdict issued by the Antep Regional Court of Justice which approved the sentence issued by the Diyarbakir High Penal Court No.8, 7 years 6 months for “membership to a terrorist organization”, 4 years 7 months for 4 counts of “terrorist propaganda” and 4 years 7 months for 4 counts of “violation of demonstrations and public gatherings act”.

The court said the following after their assessment: “There is no doubt that acts like press statements as part of political party activity, Newroz celebrations and condolence visits made with humane deliberations that don’t turn into terrorist propaganda cannot be considered armed terrorist organization activities, however, it is also not possible to consider acts of violence and various activities carried out on orders from the terrorist organization or in accordance with the calls the organization has made that turn into propaganda for the terrorist organization to be political party activity.”

The verdict also stated that sentences under 5 years are finalized by the Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice Penal Division 4 and rejected the appeal for these sentences.

On January 4, the Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No.8 issued Baluken a total sentence of 17 years and 8 months in prison, which were approved by the Antep Regional Court Penal Division 4 on May 23.